Federal

Hotchkiss

 

 

DIAMETER: 2.94 inches
GUN: 3-inch wrought iron (ordnance) rifle
LENGTH: 7 1/4 inches
WEIGHT: 10 pounds 1 ounce
CONSTRUCTION: Solid shot
SABOT: Lead band
FUZING: None
Andrew Hotchkiss patented this pattern of projectile on October 16, 1855, patent #13,679. Andrew's patent states "...shot consisting of three parts, two of which parts are of hard metal and the other of some flexible expansible material in the form of a band or ring attached to one of the hard-metal parts and overlapping the edge of the other, in such manner that either by the act of loading or of firing, or of both, the said ring shall take the impression of the grooves and be made to fit the bore, as described." In all Hotchkiss patterns used during the Civil War, the flexible expansible material was lead. Andrew Hotchkiss died in 1858.  To see an exploded view of this projectile click here.